January / February 2020 Newsletter

Dates for your Diary:

12 March Sawston Cinema: Judy 17-21 Feb Half term 12-14 March Year 10 Battlefields trip 20 Feb Sawston Cinema: NT Live: Cyrano de Bergerac 17 March Year 8 HPV vaccinations 24 Feb CEIAG Careers Fair 20 March Year 10 Report 2 issued 25-26 Feb Year 11 Additional Mocks 20 March West Road Concert 27 Feb Year 9 Parents' Evening 24 March Year 9 Girls HPV vaccinations 27 Feb Sawston Cinema: Mrs Lowry & Son 26 March Year 11 Group and Senate photos 2 March Year 10 GCSE RE Walsingham trip 26 March Year 7 Parents' Evening 4-5 March Year 11 Drama Scripted Performances 26 March Sawston Cinema: Official Secrets 5 March Sawston Cinema: Downton Abbey 27 March Year 11 GCSE Geography Hunstanton trip 4-6 March GCSE Food Practical Exams 27 March Friday Singers' Concert 6 March Year 8 Report 2 issued 27 March Year 11 Report 3 issued 11 March Year 11 Parents' Exam Information Evening 1 April Gym and Dance Performance 12 March Year 7 Report 2 issued 3 April End of Spring Term

From the Principal planned for the spring term. It is also evident in the Valentine’s Day is upon us once flourishing Eco Forum and Wellbeing Forum, which are again and, whilst education is not making a difference in supporting our aims to be greener about romance, it is certainly and to celebrate diversity. about igniting passion. We try to Those with a passion for running have an opportunity to join encourage pupils to find in this year’s Sawston Fun Run on 3 May 2020. As a something they love to be part of, beneficiary of this event and with the money already raised love to learn about or love to do. from the Sawston Stomp, we will be buying our new With representation in the finals of minibus later this year. This will help transport pupils to new the national schools cross country, experiences and places, hopefully inspiring them to find a national schools trampolining and regional Youth Speaks passion for something that will last a lifetime and reinforce competitions, we can see just how far passion for Harriet Tubman’s wise words: ‘always remember, you have something can take our pupils. This is also seen in the within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ commitment of those involved in SYD’s ‘The Young Ones’, the Y11 Stapleford Granary Concert and the many events Mr Russell, Principal

Sawston Youth Drama performs ‘The Young Ones’

Congratulations to Sawston Youth Drama leaders, the cast of pupils and former pupils in the SYD Seniors Group and everyone involved in the superb production of ‘The Young Ones’, which was recently performed over four nights in the The show was a huge success. Marven Centre. Seniors Director, Gareth Furbank, says, “I am incredibly proud of the great effort put into the production by both cast and crew alike. The Young Ones is a show about hard work, determination, and never giving up on what you believe in; values which we hold dear at SYD. The show was a huge success, but the real triumph for me was in seeing how much fun our young cast were having up on that stage.”

Professional Learning Update We have had a good start This half term has been typically busy on the to the year and have more new courses coming up. professional learning front. Departments have We are offering family continued with their departmental enquiries, where each workshops, aimed at children subject area explores an area of priority for them, reading 8 years and over, in Drumming, Bollywood Dancing, Blast off into relevant professional literature and evaluating current Spanish and Quick Breadmaking on Saturday, 7 March, and we have practice. The programme of training for colleagues new this several adult workshops on Saturday, 14 March. We are also academic year continues, with the most recent session on starting to prepare our programme for 2020/21 so if you have any questioning, examining the complexity of devising good ideas for new courses, or are able to teach a subject, please questions, considering the merits of different questioning complete our quick questionnaire by following: click here. This can strategies and comparing the types of questions that are used also be accessed towards the bottom of the home page on the adult in different subject areas. A new working party has been education website: www.sawstonadulted.org. For further established to investigate "Whole class feedback", a new information on our courses, please visit our website, and contact us approach to marking and feedback that potentially enables on 01223 712424 or via more timely, responsive, corrective feedback for pupils at the email at: same time as reducing the need for the kind of late night work [email protected].

that traditional marking often entails. Finally, the Language Mrs King, for Learning group has held its latest meeting, continuing to Adult Learning Manager examine research into how best to develop pupils' literacy skills. In the last session, the group looked at the role of The family workshops will generic and subject-specific approaches to literacy; in this offer a range of different activity. session, the group considered how to develop pupils' vocabulary, in order to improve their ability to think and communicate precisely. Sporting Fun!

Mr Woodcock, Assistant Principal We have another busy half term holiday planned at the Sports Centre. Activities such as an Adventure Camp, Trampolining, Conference Day (PSHE) Nerf Wars, Archery, Wobstacle, intensive swimming lessons and a On 29 January pupils took part in their second Krazy Kidz club all promise to keep the children entertained. Extra PSHE conference day of the year. Year 7 and 8 public swims will run every afternoon from 2.00-3.00pm, and our pupils were involved in sessions aimed at mental pay-as-you-go classes continue as normal. For more information on health, as well as physical and emotional wellbeing. holiday activities, classes, children's parties and everything else we Our Year 9 pupils took part in GCSE options taster sessions have on offer, please contact Reception on 01223 712555 or visit throughout the day, and Year 10 pupils were led by Form the our website: www.sawstonsports.com. Like us on Facebook and Future in an enterprise day, which culminated in a Dragon’s follow us on Twitter: @SawstonSports for up-to-date information and offers. Den-style pitching session. External speakers noted how polite, respectful and engaged pupils at Sawston Village Mr Croft, Assistant Sports Centre Manager College were throughout the day, and I echo their sentiments. A great success all around.

Miss Ivory-Johnson, English Teacher/PSHE Coordinator

We have lots of good things coming up at Sawston Cinema, the school-run cinema operating from the Marven Centre. We look forward to National Theatre Live’s Cyrano de Bergerac on 20 February, followed by Mrs Lowry & Son on 27 February and Downton Abbey on 5 March. To Eyes on the Prize! check what is on and to buy tickets, please visit our On Thursday, 16 January, all Year 9 pupils visited Anglia Ruskin website, given below. University for the ‘Eyes on the Prize’ event. The aim of the day Ms Morgan, Arts Development Manager is to increase motivation, aspiration and knowledge in the run up to the options process next half term. Pupils were given a guided tour of the university and also had an opportunity to visit a trade fair and explore the potential careers and higher educational pathways that they may wish to follow. Pupils were also given an insight into pupil life at the University from current undergraduate students. The behaviour of pupils throughout the day was exemplary, and this was commented upon by Anglia Ruskin staff.

Mr Burgess, Assistant Principal www.sawstoncinema.org.uk

Pupils make film for Sawston pupil filmmakers fostering campaign were delighted to take part in the Foster Film Video Challenge run by Cambridgeshire County Council recently

to make a film highlighting the need for Once again, GCSE pupils Rose Smithet, George Nelson more foster carers locally. Pupils made and Eleanor Topliss have been successful in securing a two films, one of which was then chosen to launch a new campaign to promote place in the next round of the Rotary’s Youth Speaks fostering which was featured on BBC debate competition, seeing off some tough Look East. The pupils involved in the competition from Impington Village College sixth The successful filmmakers project also appeared in the BBC Look form pupils. Praised, once more, for the engaging East feature and will shortly also visit the examples, level of detail and confidence with which Look East studios for a tour and to see they put forward their arguments, an enjoyable day the programme go out live. Five pupils was had by all listening to interesting and articulate in Years 8-10 were involved in making the film, which also featured original debates from pupils of all ages. The next round is to be held at Cambridge Regional College on 21 March. music by another Year 10 pupil.

Ms Morgan, Arts Development Manager Mrs Carman, Head of English Year 11 Concert at Stapleford Granary Creative Writing Success Year 11 are a very enterprising year group, and the GCSE Music This term has been hugely successful for class proved this once again by organising a Leavers' Ball fundraising the Creative Writing Club and for all the pupils concert at Stapleford Granary. Pupils performed a wonderful selection of who have put themselves forward for the Hunted mini solo, duet and ensemble pieces, enjoying the beautiful concert hall and saga competition with Young Writers. A number of Steinway Grand piano. It was a pleasure to see how accomplished they entrants from Sawston have been selected for have all become as performers, and it was a super evening full of great publication in a book which encapsulates the creative support from classmates, family and staff. Bravo Year 11!

achievements of young people in our region. Miss Irwin, Head of Music The published stories were thrilling, nerve-racking and highly crafted- an impressive achievement in such a constrained word limit - just 100 words! It was a pleasure for me to read and judge them in the internal, school-wide, level of the competition. Congratulations to Charlotte Brown, Leona Catchpole and Libby Hull, who were all highly commended in this round, and congratulations also to Emily Harris, Anna Sargent, Fiona Leggate and Emma Quinell who were all Pupils gave accomplished performances. commended.

Ms Eve, English Teacher Lego League City Shaper Interview Day for Year 11 Pupils Event On Monday, 20 January 2020, all pupils in Year 11 Lego, robots, algorithms, received a professional interview from a visitor from coding, competition: this industry, as part of the schools Careers Education, year’s First Lego League City Information, Advice and Guidance programme. Shaper event had it all, and, Interviewers came from a variety of backgrounds, after weeks of preparation, including some visitors from our local partners, such as our team was ready for the Morgan Sindall and TWI. The main purpose of the day challenge. Leading up to the was to give pupils the experience of an interview prior to event, the group had met Pupils attended the First Lego League event. the guidance meetings that will take place for further weekly to design and education courses in the coming months. Each pupil improve a robot, program and refine code to drive it, and come up with a was given a 5-minute interview with five minutes of solution to an urban city problem. The pupils focused on something close to feedback focusing on a number of areas, including our Cambridge hearts and minds: bikes and, more specifically, how to store content, delivery and body language. There was a huge them safely and efficiently in increasingly precious space. We competed in buzz in the Henry Morris Hall, and pupils conducted three rounds, and in stage 1, our robot was the first to successfully finish on themselves incredibly well throughout the process. the bridge. We presented our bike storage solution, and we explained how Several interviewers commented on how articulate we programmed our robot. Our group’s behaviour, enthusiasm and Sawston pupils were and how well prepared teamwork were all outstanding - as I would expect - and a great and they seemed to be for the next stage in exhausting day was had by all. We even won the selfie competition! their education.

Mr Phoenix Holland, Head of Computer Science and iMedia Mr Burgess, Assistant Principal

House News something about wellbeing each week, including tips and strategies for The autumn term ended on a high with another fantastic inter-house self help. So far, we have looked at quiz, which included some excellent kazoo-ing skills from staff and worry, what it is and how it makes us some impressive handmade penguins from pupils. The scores were feel. Any pupils or parents who would incredibly close, but congratulations goes to Turing House, who took like support with wellbeing issues are the title this time around. encouraged to contact the relevant We have had a busy start to the Spring term, with Greener Week Mentor or Year Lead to discuss how activities, Options assemblies for Year 9s, and Year 10s embarking on we can help. their Work Experience process. We are pleased to have introduced a weekly Wellbeing Focus to mentor time, allowing all pupils to learn Miss Gregg, Head of Turing House, on behalf of the Heads of House

Greener Week Cross Sawston's first ever Greener Week took place recently, and Country pupils worked together to look at ways to make the College In December a a greener and more eco-friendly environment for group of six pupils everyone. As well as looking at the recycling provision on site, pupils from Years 7-9 took took part in a travel-to-school survey and explored how we as a College part in the district can gain our Eco Schools credentials in the near future. There was also cross country race a presentation from Cambridgeshire County Council on their Eco consultation, and pupils were encouraged to have their say on future held at The plans for their local community. Pupils and parents were very Netherhall School. generous in our giant clothing drive collection, and we passed on over All six pupils were a Left to right: Jenny Leggate (Y9), George 100 bags of clothing and accessories to the Bags 2 School company. We credit to Sawston Insley (Y7), Samuel Caroe (Y7), Tom Bullock are waiting excitedly to see how much money we raised and we plan to Village College, (Y8), Matthew Smith (Y8) and Joel Dennington use this for further eco projects. demonstrating (Y8) at the District Round. Miss Hunt, Head of da Vinci House excellent determination throughout their event. Notable performances came from Jenny Year 7 Cambridge Leggate in Year 9 who has qualified through the district and county Mosque Visit rounds to compete at the English Schools Cross Country Competition Year 7 pupils had an opportunity in Liverpool in March. Matthew Smith in Year 8 has been selected as to visit the new mosque in a reserve for this competition. A huge well done to all of our runners Cambridge, the first eco-friendly and the best of luck to Jenny for the race in March! mosque in Europe. Upon arrival, Mrs Andersen, PE Teacher pupils were welcomed into the Islamic garden, where they Intermediate Maths Challenge learned about the sustainability of the mosque and its unique On 6 February, a number of pupils in Years 8 to 11 took design features. We were then The new mosque is eco-friendly. part in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, which is run by the United taken on a tour, had the privilege of meeting with the Imam and were Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) charity. The paper is a able to ask questions and explore what we have been learning in class in non-calculator one-hour paper, designed to encourage mathematical more detail. The pupils were outstanding during the visit, conducting reasoning, fluency and precision of thought. Successful candidates themselves in a respectful and inquisitive manner. can qualify for a number of follow-on rounds, and there is even a

Mrs Clover, Head of RE and Ethics summer school for successful candidates. Dr Tunna, Mathematics Teacher Trampolining In November a group of eight pupils from Years 7-11 took part in the regional round of the schools trampolining competition. The pupils performed two routines containing numerous somersaults, which were marked by a panel of judges. Notable successes came from Cameron Spence who came Left to right: Abhi Macdonald third in the intermediate boys’ Marlow (Y10), Gabe Strydom Green category and Abhi Macdonald (Y10) and Cameron Spence (Y9) at Marlow and Gabe Strydom Green Fancy yourself as a budding mathematician? Try this question. the zonal round in Cardiff. who have now progressed through What is the difference between 25% of £37 and 25% of £17? the regional and zonal rounds to compete at the National British Schools Final being held in Southampton in March. All pupils who took And finally: Dr Tunna’s Maths

part in the various rounds performed brilliantly, and we look forward to We wish everyone a good half term break and Question Answer

seeing where Abhi and Gabe will place in the final. look forward to welcoming all pupils back to £5.00. course, of is,

Mrs Andersen, PE Teacher school on Monday, 24 February 2020. answer correct The